Cullingworth nestles in Yorkshire's wonderful South Pennines and I have the pleasure and delight to be the village's Conservative Councillor. But these are my views - on politics, food, beer and the stupidity of those who want to tell me what to think or do. And a little on mushrooms.

Sunday, 26 January 2014

Science doesn't support EU proposed restrictions on e-cigs

Fifteen prominent scientists who have investigated the health
consequences of electronic cigarettes have accused European Union
regulators of misinterpreting their results. The scientists say the EU
aim is to draft an unjustifiably burdensome new law to regulate
e-cigarettes.

These scientists - including several cited in the EU's justification for stricter controls - argue that:

...regulation must be built on robust science. The cited errors relate to
the strength of nicotine solutions allowed, the doses needed to match
the nicotine "hit" from real cigarettes, an overstatement of the known
dangers from nicotine and unwarranted assumptions that e-cigarettes will
become "gateway products", tempting non-smokers and young people to try
real cigarettes.

Of course the usual suspects are still wriggling with the BMA calling for more studies to find out things we already know (e.g. nicotine content, safety, health risks of nicotine). Nothing changes - although it's notable that the New Scientist gives the issue such coverage.